All articles tagged with #space
SpaceX Crew-12 astronauts returned to Earth on Oct. 8 after a nearly eight-month stay at the International Space Station. The crew, comprising Jessica Meir, Jack Hathaway, Sophie Adenot, and Andrey Fedyaev, undocked on Oct. 7 and splashed down in the Pacific Ocean off California at 11:34 a.m. EDT. The mission included historic spacewalks and set a new European record for a single spaceflight duration.
An international team of astronomers has identified IRAS 18293-0941 as the first strong candidate for a 'microblazar,' a long-theorized cosmic object. Located about 12,000 light-years from Earth in the Milky Way, this binary system features a black hole orbiting a giant star. The black hole ejects matter in powerful jets, one of which is pointed directly at Earth, offering a rare opportunity to study these energetic phenomena up close.
A bright green meteor exploded over Arizona on October 6, 2026, creating a visible fireball that fragmented as it approached the ground. Captured by a webcam in Dragoon and observed by astrophotographer Andrew McCarthy, the event was identified as a meteoroid impact rather than a satellite reentry due to its speed and trajectory. The object likely landed in the Tonto National Forest area.
NOAA has issued a G2 geomagnetic storm watch for October 9, following a coronal mass ejection (CME) launched by the Sun on October 6. The CME, traveling at approximately 560 km/s, is expected to reach Earth in the early hours of October 9, potentially triggering visible auroras as far south as Idaho and New York. This event follows an M1.4-class solar flare from sunspot region AR4549, which is currently positioned near the center of the Earth-facing side of the Sun. While exact arrival timing remains uncertain, forecasters anticipate moderate geomagnetic activity that could enhance northern lights visibility across the northern United States.
SpaceX’s Crew-13 mission successfully launched on October 1, 2026, setting a new U.S. record for the fastest transit to the International Space Station at 7 hours and 55 minutes. The four-person crew, led by NASA astronaut Jessica Watkins, docked with the ISS after a three-week delay caused by a fuel leak. This mission marks the first time a Black woman has commanded a crew to orbit and the first U.S. crewed launch in six months.
SpaceX aborted its launch of 21 military data satellites for the Space Development Agency on Monday, Oct. 5, 2026, during the final seconds of the countdown. The company waived the subsequent Tuesday opportunity, with a new attempt now targeted for Thursday, Oct. 8. The mission, designated Tranche 1 Transport Layer A, is part of a broader constellation intended to provide secure communications and missile tracking capabilities for the U.S. military.
SpaceX launched the Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 1, 2026, from Cape Canaveral. The four-person crew, led by Jessica Watkins, completed a record-breaking transit to the station in 7 hours and 55 minutes. The launch followed a delay caused by a faulty valve in the Dragon spacecraft, which required an unprecedented in-situ repair while the vehicle was loaded with propellant. This mission marks the 13th crew rotation under SpaceX's NASA contract and brings the total ISS crew count to 11.
The joint European-Chinese SMILE satellite officially began science operations on September 23, 2026, after a successful commissioning phase. Its first ultraviolet images, captured on July 24, reveal auroras visible in broad daylight over the North Pole. The mission aims to study solar wind interactions with Earth's magnetic field, with its X-ray imager currently undergoing calibration to reduce stray light before targeting the magnetopause in mid-October.
Blue Origin has revealed a new 'Power Tower' designed to generate over 10 kilowatts of solar electricity for a future base at the Moon's south pole. The 20-meter-tall structure features a vertically deployed solar array system that unfolds after landing. The company shared an animation of the deployment on X on September 25, alongside footage of a successful Earth-based test conducted on July 22, 2026. This technology evolves from the earlier Lunar Array Mast and Power System (LAMPS) developed by Blue Origin subsidiary Honeybee Robotics. The modular design aims to support future surface networks by extending power to various assets beyond the lander itself.
SpaceX’s Starship achieved its first orbital flight on September 28, 2026, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites. While the mission was cut short due to an engine failure, it confirmed the vehicle's capability to reach orbit. This milestone accelerates SpaceX’s plan to retire Falcon 9 and Dragon, sparking concerns about a launch supply crisis for commercial operators.
SpaceX’s Starship successfully reached orbit on Sept. 28, deploying 26 Starlink V3 satellites, but the mission ended early due to an engine failure. While SpaceX and analysts view the flight as a major milestone, the success of Starship is accelerating the phase-out of Falcon 9 and Dragon, creating a potential launch bottleneck for the commercial space industry.
SpaceX completed a historic triple launch on October 1, 2026, including its first Falcon Heavy mission for the National Reconnaissance Office (NRO). The NROL-97 launch from Kennedy Space Center at 11:54 p.m. EDT marked a new record for booster landings in a single day. Separately, SpaceX launched a beta 'Starlink for Communities' program, allowing property owners to earn passive income by sharing internet access with neighbors.
SpaceX successfully launched its Crew-13 mission to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 1, 2026, achieving the fastest US launch-to-docking transit in history at approximately eight hours. The four-person crew, led by Jessica Watkins, joined Expedition 75. The mission followed a significant delay caused by a faulty valve in the Dragon spacecraft’s propulsion system, which required an unprecedented in-situ repair while the vehicle was loaded with propellant. This launch marks the 13th crew rotation for SpaceX under its NASA contract and highlights the company’s operational reliability despite upcoming fleet retirements.
The Solar Wind Magnetosphere Ionosphere Link Explorer (SMILE) has released its first ultraviolet images, revealing the full ring of northern lights encircling Earth’s North Pole. Captured on July 24, 2026, the footage shows auroral activity on both the day and night sides of the planet, a capability not seen since 2008. This marks the start of science operations for the joint European-Chinese mission, which aims to improve understanding of solar storms and space weather.
NASA has committed an additional $359 million to Boeing to repair Starliner’s thrusters and certify the Vulcan Centaur rocket for crewed missions. Following a disastrous 2024 test flight that stranded astronauts for nine months, NASA plans an uncrewed Starliner-1 test in late 2026 or early 2027, with a crewed return targeted for 2028. This move secures a backup option as SpaceX prepares to retire its Crew Dragon capsule in the 2030s, though concerns remain about Starliner’s reliability and the impending retirement of the ISS.